Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The Painted Christmas Cottage

Welcome. I am so happy that you stopped by. I generally share my garden and the inspirations for my paintings with you. This year I was so honored that Cottages and Bungalows magazine shared my home in their Easy Seaside Style issue and have requests from some of their readers to have a peek inside my cottage to see how I decorate for Christmas with my art. So . . . . . I decided to re-post and update a previous Christmas home tour. My front door is always open for you to come in and sip a cup of tea while I share with you my painted cottage.This year the wreath on the door has one of my little snowmen paintings on the wreath.

My Studio Assistant, Bentley is eagerly waiting for you at the front door.

Directly past the entrance is the dining room. I collect blue and white china and you will see it throughout my home. It reminds me of my childhood summers spent at the family beach cottage at Wrightsville Beach, N.C - the charming cottage was filled with my Grandmother's mismatched blue and white china, old quilts, white wicker, and flowers - all the things that I love to paint.

The painted blue table is on of my favorites and displays a little Christmas painting of my red front door and Bentley. The mirror behind the table reflects the outdoors.

Bentley loves to "photo bomb" my photos!

I like to keep Christmas decoration simple using greens, berries and seas shells in keeping with my coastal cottage style of decorating. I collect vintage table cloths and have several lovely ones with reds that I save to use at Christmas time.

The living room is to the right of the dining room. It is a large room filled with wonderful natural light and is hard to photograph due to the light. The next two photos photos were taken from the dining room looking into the living room. I switch out the throw pillows according to the seasons and use the red and white check indoor/outdoor pillows for Christmas and Fourth of July.The painting over the mantel was sold to one of the magazine readers and has been replaced by this painting.

The flag painting in the dining room recently sold and was replaced by this one.

Bentley in the dining room looking into the living room.

The mirror is opposite the fire place and I love the way it reflects my art.

Christmas ribbons are tied around shore birds for festive look.

Decorations are natural and simple with sea shells, nests and greens.

I tuck my small whimsical painting in among seas shells and plants where I can find room for them!

I bought the blue cupboard at a garage sale -it was used for tool storage and had a vice bolted on top - it has wheels and I paid $25.00 for it and wheeled it down the street to my house!!

We have a living Christmas tree that lives in the garden during the year - it is especially meaningful this year as it survived our terrible drought in Southern California. We decorate the tree with flags and sea shells and keep decorations to a minimum. A star fish tops the tree.

The staircase has a lovely landing with a tall window that lets in lots of light and is a great place to grow ferns and Christmas plants as well as hang one of my large paintings of a California vineyard.

The landing is also one of Bentley's favorite places to hang out. Simple green garlands with red berries and sea shells are wrapped around the banisters.

My office and bedrooms are upstairs. The large Flower Shoppe painting hangs in my office that is a loft room over looking the living room and side garden. I like to mix old painted furniture with primitive wood antiques as the unpainted wood tends to anchor the room.

Our guests love staying in this room and always comment that they feel like they are in a beach cottage. It has another one of my large paintings of a local scene and porch overlooking our beautiful Newport Bay.

The painting over the bed was sold to another of the magazine readers and was replaced by this one.

Little Christmas paintings are left out for guests to take home.

Let's go back downstairs. The kitchen is to the right of the dining room. It is very sunny and has a large window, greenhouse window and French doors leading to the kitchen patio where I grow herbs and some vegetables in containers.Two of my little Rooster paintings are on the wall. I have fun painting my personal art to match my decor! Roosters rule in my kitchen thus the Rooster art! The blue chair is a favorite place to sit and read with a cup of tea as it gets the morning sun.

Herbs thrive in the kitchen window.

Bentley loves to hang out in the kitchen waiting for a taste of Christmas baking.

The jelly cupboard and plate rack are beside the French doors overlooking the kitchen patio.

This shot has another of my small Rooster paintings.

Thank you for stopping by my painted cottage. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for visiting my blog, leaving me lovely comments, e-mails and those following my blog.Wishing you and your family a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year. I will see you again in January 2018. Blessings, Erin

" When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding joy." Matthew 2:10

Erin, your home is just so lovely. You really have gone all out with the Christmas decorating. Bentley looks adorable in these pictures. He looks so cute in his cottage by the sea. If I don't see you, have a beautiful holiday. My best wishes for a speedy recovery for your son.

I love your beautiful home -- the red, white and green is perfect together and Bentley is always perfect! I send many wishes for peace and healing to your family in the new year along with much joy this very moment and all those that follow.

Erin,Everything is so beautiful. Love all the cottage colors so bright and cheerful. It must feel like you are on vacation everyday in your pretty cottage. Bentley looks adorable in the red and green neck collar for Christmas. Have a very Merry Christmas and much joy in the new year.Kris

Your cottage is so beautiful and is such an inspiration. I love your little paintings and I have one of your bicycles hanging here in my work room. I won it in one of your give a ways. I just love it! Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Well, it's no secret! Your home is absolutely the most welcoming I've ever seen. I could just walk right through that door and plop myself down in any room. Sooooo inviting! Thank you so much for sharing where you hang your hat.

Oh what a delightful tour of your precious cottage! I love it all! Your white walls make your bright happy colors pop! I notice you use no frames on your painting Are the big ones canvas or wood, narrow or wide width? I paint too so always interested in looks I like. Blessings on you and yours during this happy CHRISTMAS SEASON. Marlynne Snare Folk Artist

Erin, I just love your cottage. I guess you already know that, but it's worth repeating. Your artwork is delightful and how fun that you can paint pieces that enhance your decor. I love that! Bentley is the best assistant anyone could have. What a sweetheart! Merry Christmas to you both. :) ~ Nancy

Can you tell me which white paint (brand and color) you used on your walls and on your kitchen cupboards? I love the hole house. Especially the bright blue in your accents. I just bought a red checked sofa and chair at a yard sale and your colors would be perfect.

Your home is warm and welcoming! I'm so in love with the brilliant pops of yellow in your lovely kitchen. Are you ok with the fires? I saw them last evening and was shocked by how fierce they appear. Merry Christmas!

Your cottage is so cheerful and pretty. I love the colors you have used on your walls and furnishings. It is so enjoyable to see your bright and beautiful paintings. Merry Christmas to you and Bentley!

If you have any questions about my art please contact me erinsart@ca.rr.com

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On any given day I think about how grateful I am to God for gifting me with a creative spirit and how lucky I am to be able to share my gift with my wonderful Blog Friends. Thank you for your visits, comments and those who follow my blog.

Proverbs 16.24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet tothe soul and healing to the bones.

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Creating is about sharing

Part of the joy of creating is sharing. Come along with me for a little tour of my studio garden where I find inspiration every day. "Coming soon!"